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BJP candidate charged with anti-Christian hate speech
by Scott Gilbreath ~ April 13th, 2009
A candidate running for the pro-Hindutva Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in upcoming elections in India has been charged with hate speech following an incendiary address in which he attacked Christianity and defamed Christians. The speech was given near the Kandhamal district of Orissa state, which has been rocked by anti-Christian mob violence that began last August.
Mr. [Ashok] Sahu made the provocative speech at a public meeting at Raikia town April 5. He allegedly accused the church of indulging in conversion. He also allegedly claimed that Congress Rajya Sabha MP Radhakanta Nayak was using foreign money to spread Christianity.
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Mr. Sahu, a senior functionary of VHP [World Hindu Council] and belived [sic] to be mastermind in engineering attacks against christian minority, had also made similar remarks during the communal violence last year. Christian leaders had immediately refuted the allegations.
After listening to a recording of Mr Sahu’s speech, the Election Commission filed additional charges against him under two other sections of India’s Penal Code.
The Evangelical Fellowship of India has issued a statement condemning the use of hate speech by BJP candidates.
The BJP has also nominated for office Manoj Pradhan, who is now in jail accused of being a ringleader in Orissa rioting.
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April 14th, 2009 at 09:55 PM
[...] HINDU BJP candidate charged with anti-Christian hate speech …. [...]